Pencil



Sept., 29, 1936. J. J. RoBBlNs PENCIL Patented Sept. 29, 1936 PENCIL Josse J. Robbins, Hollywood, com., signor to Stylofede Corporation, a corporation of 'California Appnoouoo ootobor 29, 1932, soi-iol No. 640,315

. e Renewed February 25, 1936 17 Claims.

My invention relates to pencils, and more particularly to pencils provided with means for re. newing the lead when it becomes worn or broken. Heretofore difficulties have been experienced in putting new lead into the feeding mechanism for a pencil of this type. Generally it was necessary to unscrew the top of the pencil, remove. a lead from a compartment and to manually insert this new lead in the feeding means yfor the pencil. This operation was tedious, often involving the breaking o f the lead anddirtying of the hands, and most `important of all, loss of time. In cases Where shorthand work is performed, asin report-- ing, or in cases where numbers are taken by telephone operators, the breaking of pencils involves a distinct loss of time. Moreover, even with a number of pencils at the start of the work, all of the points may be broken or worn out before the work is completed, thus necessitating a recess for resharpening pencils.

used up, the operation of the reiill, as above set forth; requires considerable time.

Moreover, in constructions of the prior art, the reilll typesv of pencil were delicate in mechanism and subject to damage in use.

Itis an object of my invention to permit a lead, when it is wornout or broken, to be readily replaced with a minimum-of eiort, and in a fraction of the time such an operation hasheretoiore in-V volved.

A further object of my invention is to devise a pencil which is sturdy and simple in operation, and not easily damaged by use.

A still further object of my invention is to pro- `departing from the spirit and scope of the ap-v pended claims.

In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawing means for carrying the same i'nto practical effect without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular constructions, which, for the purpose ofexplanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the drawing:

Where refill pencils are used, when the lead in a single 'iilling has been (Cl. 1Z0-17) Figure 1 is a cross section taken through the longitudinal axis of my pencil I 2 is a cross section taken on the line Fig.

2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the taken' on the Fig; 7 is a cross sectional view taken on the l5 line 1-'I of Fig. l.

In ythe drawing I havershown a pencil body I, of

o some suitable material, such as hardened rubber.

In the pencil body I is inserted a tapered head 2, which may be of metal, hardened rubber, or other suitable material, provided with a shoulder 3 which abuts against the body I, and has a projecting cylindrical portion l.. e

The tapered head 2v is provided with a cylindrical aperture 5, and a larger cylindrical aperture 6. Adapted tc reciprocate within the tapered head 2 is a point supporting tube 1 having a conical end 8, through which is adapted to project a writing lead 9. v y

The point supporting tube 1 is provided with an enlargedicylindrical portion II which fits within the counter-bored aperture 6 of the head 2. The point supporting tube is adapted to reciprocate to the position shown inl Figure 3 upon pressure beingapplied thereto, and this reciprocation of the point supportingl tube 'I operates to move the lead 9 into the writing position shown in Figures 1 and 2, as will be described. Screw-threaded at I2 into the point supporting tube 1 is a driving tube I3' of lesser diameter than the enlarged cylindrical portion II oi the point supporting tube. Surrounding the driving tube I3 is a helical spring I4 whose lower end bears against the enlarged cylindrical portion II of the point supporting tube 1. The other end o! the spring- Il abuts against a. partition member I5 provided at I6 with an annular shouldered recess.

Fitting within the shouldered recess I6 is a cylindrical shell I1' which lies with a reasonablyv tight fit against the interior surface of the hollow pencil body I.. A xed rack supporting member I8 has one end abutting against the partition member |51, and is held in place bya holding screw I9. The xed rack supporting member I8 vis pro- .lead through the point supporting tube.

vided with two racks, one at each side, which I have designated by numerals 2|.

There is a similar rack supporting member 22 which is movable, and which is adapted to slide within the cylindrical shell I1. This movable rack supporting member 22 is provided with racks 23 and formed with upwardly extending ears 24 at -the top end. Pivoted on upwardly extending ears 24, at 25, are two link members 26 carrying a connecting pin 21 at their ends opposite their point of pivoting 25 to the ears 24 of the slidable rack 22. The connecting pin 21 is adapted to slide within obliquely inclined slots 28 made in upstanding sides 29 provided in an integrally formed hopper member and lead tube construction which will now be described.

The hopper and lead tube construction comprises a lead tube 3| provided with cut-out portions 32 at one extremity. 'Ihe lead tube 3| is adapted to reciprocate within the driving tube I3. The oblique slots 23 of the Yupstanding' sides 29 of the lead tube 3| are so positioned that upon movement of the links 29, causingv the connecting pin 21 to move inthe slots 28, the connecting pin 21 will be moved to carry with it a clutch piece 33 which in its lowermost position will seize against the lead 9 and hold it firmly against the bottom of the lead tube 3|, causing the lead 9 to move with the movement of the lead tube 3 I Integrally formed with the lead tube 3| is a hopper member 34 of trough shape, having one side of the trough 3 51higher than the other, and lying close to-the interior wall of the cylindrical shell I1. The other side of the hopper member 34 comprises a well 36 of lesser height than side 35. A reservoir is formed in the cylindrical shell I 1 for leads 9, by reason of a slidable closure member 31 provided with bracing legs 38 to retain it in its proper position within the cylindrical shell I 1, but permit it to slide within the cylindrical shell I1.

The closure member 31 -is provided with a central aperture 39, see Figure '7, through which the lead 9 may pass, and is suitably fastened at 4I to the hopper 34, and moves therewith.

The driving tube I3 is provided with a head 42 having attened sides 43, and stub shafts 44 pro- Jecting from-these attened sides, see Figure 5. Mounted on the stub shafts are pinions 45 which mesh with the racks 2| of the xed rack supporting member I8, and the racks 23 of the movable rack supporting member 22. y

Let us assume'that it is desirable to feed more The pencil is rotated., so that the side of the trough 36 picks up a lead 9 so that it can slide along the bottom of the trough 34, and the pencil is inclined so that the lead 9 will slide through the aperture 39 in the closure member. 31. 'I'he lead will pass tube 1 carries with it the driving tube I3, which causes the pinions 45 to be moved upwardly into the body of the pencil. Since the pinions 4I mesh with fixed racks 2|, the pinions' will be rotated,

and the movable rack member 22 will be moved.

through a distance twice as great as 'the movement of the point supporting member.-

By reason of the engagement of the pin 21 with the top of the oblique slots 29 in the upstanding sides 29 formed on the lead' tube 3|, the lead tube 3| will be moved approximately twice the distance that the point supportingtube is moved by the .the point supporting tube.

interior member 92.

member 31. The movement of the lead supporting tube 3| is not quitetwice the magnitude of the movement of the point supporting tube 1, by reason of the fact there is a certain amount of play permitted in the engagement of the pin 21 with the top of the slots 28.

The position of the parts in which the spring I4 is compressed is shown clearly in Figure 3. Now, let us assume that the pressure is released on 'I'he spring I4 pushes the pointvsupporting tube downward, which carries with it the driving tube I3 and the pinions 45. in engagement with the fixed racks 2|, which-y causes reciprocation of the movable rack supporting member through racks 23, tending to cause the parts to assume the position shown in Figures 1 and 2. This force of the spring causes thevclutch member 33 to clamp tightly against the lead 9 in the lead tube. and to movethe lead tube and the lead with it downward approximately twice the distance that the point supporting tube moved in. its upward movement, thus feeding the lead 9 through the end of the point supporting tube. This'operation, of course, can be repeated to feed more and more lengths of lead through the point supporting tube.

The inner wall'of the point supporting tube is conically tapered where the end of the lead tube comes, as at 65. When the lead tube 3| is in its uppermost position, the conical contracted portion 65 exerts no pressure on the end of the lead tube, and the end of the lead tube does not grip the lead 9. This permits the lead 9, and the successive leads in the chain of leads such as shown in Figure l, to remai for instance, in the position shown in Figure 3, and it will not be raised by the upward movement of the lead supporting tube 3 I. 'I'he leads 9 are free 'to slide in the lead supporting tube when the lead supporting tube is raised to the position shown in Figure 3. When the spring, through the chain of operation, asbei'ore described, pushes thesliding rack 22 back in the position indicated in' Figuresl 1 and 2, the lead is advanced through the point supporting'tube 1.

In the position shown in Figures 1 and'2, the end of the lead tube 3 I is slightly compressed by reason of -the conical restricted section 89 of the point supporting tube 1, and grips the lead to prevent it being shoved back into the body of the pencil under ordinary writing pressure. The cutout portions 32 of the lead supporting tube 3| permits this compression at this end of the lead supporting tube. By rotating the pencil, new lead is caught in the trough 34, and lead can be continuously fed through the point supporting tube as long as there are new pieces of lead in the reservoir.

There is shown at the end of the lead reservoir a rubber 41, held by a split holder member 4B with a knurled head 49, permitting it to be removed and a new rubber inserted. 'Ihe splits in the holder member ,43 permits it tobe compressed to permit renewal of the rubber 41. rubber and holder member constitute the of the lead reservoir. Y

There is a cap member II, having a cylindrical The cylindrical interior member 32 fits over the cylindrical shell I1. The cap 52 -is provided with a longitudinal aperture 33 in which rests one end of a spring clip I4, carrying a member Il which may support the users name, ii.' desired. The users name may be stamped on the member 3l, or the member Il may be made of transparent material and the users name writsuch as rivets 64, to the interior of the member 52.'

, ciprocable member, a lead feeding member, and

means cooperating with the pinion to translate ten onv paper and inserted between the transparent material and the spring clip 54.

The spring clip 54 is bent, as indicated at 55, and passes through an aperture 5l made in the cylindrical member 52. yThe spring clip is again bent in the interior of the cap 5I, as indicated .at 58, and carries thereon a push button 59, held thereon by clips 6| which iit around the portion 58 of the spring clip. The push button 59 passes through an aperture 62 made through cap 5| and the cylindrical interior member 52. The clip is again caused to change direction, as indicated at 63, and is finally fastened by somesuitable means,

By pressing on the push button 59, the spring clip is caused to be pushed upwardly at its free end, which carries the member 55, and this end' may t over the pocket of the user. By pressing on. the button 59, the spring clip can. be released from the pocket of the user. The cap 5I is, of course, removable for the use of the eraser, there being a sliding t between the cap and the body proper of the pencil, in other Words, betweenthe member 52 and the cylindrical shell I1, which latter projects beyond the body I of the pencil.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth, by way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be vmade therein by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a pencil, the combination of a reservoir for leads, a hopper located in-th'e reservoir to receive a lead by rotation of the pencil, a lead tube to which the hopper feeds, said lead tube integrallyformed with the hopper and aligned therewith, a clutch for holding the lead with respect to said tube, and means to reciprocate the lead tube to project the lead.

2. In a pencil, the combination of a reservoir for leads, a hopper located in the reservoir to receive a lead by rotation of thepencil, a reciprocable lead tube in communication with the hopper, clutch mechanism cooperating with the lead tube for holding the lead, a rack to operate the clutch, and means to move the rack to reciprocate the lead tube and feed the lead received.

3. In a ceive a lead, a reciprocable lead tube integrally formed therewith, and means to grip a lead in one direction of reciprocation' of the hopper and lead tube, but to release it in the other direction 5. Ina pencil, the combination of a reservoir for leads, a hopper located in the reservoir to receive a lead, a reciprocable leadtube integrally formed with the hopper and aligned therewith,

clutch mechanism for holding the lead, a lead vtube to which/the clutchmechanism is` attached, a rack to operate the clutch, and means tomove the rack to reciprocate the lead'tube and feed' the lead received. v

6. In a pencil, the combination of an extending reciprocable member, a pinion carried by thereencil, the combination of -a reservoir` for leads, a hopper located in the reservoir to rethe movement of the reciprocating member into a greater movement of the lead feeding member.-

7. In a pencil, the combination of an extendling reciprocable member, a pinion carried by the reciprocable member, a lead feeding member, and

a movement of reciprocation of the lead feeding member which is substantially double that of the reciprocable member.

8. In a pencil, the combination of an extending reciprocable member, a pinion movable therewith, a xed rack engaging the pinion, a movable rack engaging the pinion, and means operated by the movement of the movable rack to feed a lead.

9. In a pencil, the combination of a hollow point supporting tube adapted to reciprocate a spring normally holding the point supporting tube in its extended position, a lead tube adapted to reciprocate in the point supporting tube, a pinion movable with the point supporting tube, a fixed rack engaging the pinion, a movable rack engaging the pinion, and means attached to the lead tube and the movable rack to clutch a lead in one direction of movement of the rack and release it in the other direction.

10. In a pencil, the combination of a reservoir for leads, a hopper located in the reservoir to receive a lead, a reciprocable lead tube integrally formed therewith, anv extending reciprocable member,.a pinion movable therewith, a fixed rack engaging the pinion, a movable rack engaging the pinion, and connected with the lead tube, and means operable by the movement of the movable rack to feed the lead.

, 1l. In a pencil, the combination of a reservoir for leads, a hopper located in the reservoir to receive a lead, a reciprocable lead tube integrally formed. therewith, a clutch for holding the lead, an extending reciprocable member, a pinion movable therewith, a xed rack engaging the pinion,

and a movable rack engaging the pinion and adapted to actuate the clutch.

12. In a pencil, the combination of a hollow point supporting tube adapted to reciprocate, a spring normally holding the point supporting tube in its extended position, a reservoir for leads, a hopper located in the reservoir to receive a lead by rotation of the pencil, a lead tube adapted to reciprocate in the point supporting tube and to which the hopper feeds, a pinion movable with the point supporting tube, a xed rack engaging the pinion, a movable rack engaging the pinion,

and means A attached to the lead tube and the movable rack to clutch a lead in one direction of movement of the rack and release it in the other direction'to feed a lead throughAthe hollow point supporting tube upon reciprocation of the point supporting tube.

13. In a pencil, a reservoir for leads, a reciprocable lead tube in communication with the reservoir, means in said reservoir tol feed leads to the lead tube, a clutch for holding the lead with respect to said tube, and means to reciprocate the lead tube to project the lead.

' 14. In a pencil, a reservoir for leads, a reciprocable lead tube in-colnmunication withthe reservoir, means in said reservoir to feed leads to the lead tube, a clutch'i'or holding the lead in the tube, and means to reciprocate'the lead tube to i project the lead.

1.5. In a pencil, a reservoir for leads, a reciprocable lead tube incommunication with the reservoir, means in said reservoir to continuously feed leads to the lead tube. a clutch-for holding the leady in the tube and means to reciprocate the lead tube to project the lead.

- 16. 'In a pencil, a reservoir for leads, a reciprocable leadtube in communication with the reservoir, means to feed leads to the lead tube, a clutch for holding the lead with respect to said.

10 tube, a rack to operate the clutch, and means to move the rack to reciprocate the'lead'tub'e to project the lead.

17. In a pencil, a reservoir for leads, a reciprocable lead tube in communication with thereservoir, means 1n said reservoir to feed leads to the lead tube, a clutch for holding the lead with respect to said tube, a rack to operate the clutch, and means to move the rack to reciprocate the JESSE J. ROBBINS. 

